All Habs Hockey Party in Montreal: Habs vs Flyers

by Amy, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Our mission here at All Habs is "to build a world-wide network of Montreal Canadiens fans who are informed, engaged, entertained, and connected".  "It's more than just meeting for hockey - it's growing potential friendships," says our friend Karine - perfectly summing up the reason why All Habs Hockey Parties are the premiere way to bring Habs fans together!

Karine and her boyfriend James attended their first All Habs Hockey Party last weekend.  James is a writer for All Habs and says, "I knew about the All Habs parties before, they are quite famous on Twitter."  A Laval native (and life-long Habs fan), James admits that a little bit of shyness had prevented him from attending in the past but decided it was time to find out what all the festivities were about.  "I was very excited at the thought of meeting new people that shared the same passion I have for hockey!"

It was the March All Habs Night at McLean's Pub in Montreal and the Habs were slated to take on the Flyers.  As is the case with every monthly All Habs event at McLean's, attendees who had RSVP'd via Twitter or Facebook had special reserved seating in the center of the pub with fantastic views of the surrounding television screens, along with beer specials and menu discounts.  This was also James and Karine's first visit to McLean's.  "The multimedia setup (TVs, sound) was awesome and when I saw the menu I thought, 'Oh well this is a great start!'" says Karine.

Soon they were joined by dozens of other Habs fans who were just as thrilled to meet each other and reunite with friends.  They, along with the full house of bar patrons, were ready to cheer on the Canadiens in a conference rivalry matchup.  Karine was pleasantly surprised at how warmly she and other first-timers were received.  "It was easy to relate with other people, there was no pressure at all!  Everyone was so welcoming!"  James agrees, stating, "I felt at home, I felt like I found a new group of people where I belonged."

At intermission it was time for the All Habs Trivia Challenge, which focused on Habs vs. Flyers history.  Jay Farrar took over the microphone from behind the bar and led the entire pub through the Trivia Challenge (with some jokes along the way of course!).

The competition was tough but after the results were tallied we had quite a few winners!  Prizes included tickets to the Habs Hall of Fame and gift certificates to McLean's Pub.  Even our server-extraordinaire Adrienne won a Habs car flag!

But we didn't stop there - other participants were awarded for having "alternative" prize potential.  A t-shirt honouring the participant who answered every question with the same answer went to Katherine.

It also pays to NOT win!  The award for the person who had answered the most questions incorrectly was a signed Toronto Blue Jays baseball.

And finally the prize for the most creative answers went to Karine. "I had no clue what to write, so I decided to go with funny answers."  Looks like it paid off!

Even though the evening didn't end with a Canadiens win, James says it was a definitely a night to remember.  "It was an experience I will never forget, and I look forward to future All Habs Hockey Parties!"

Luckily there isn't long to wait since the next All Habs Hockey Party at McLean's Pub is Saturday, April 7th for the Habs vs Leafs game, which is the final game of the regular season.  You don't want to miss out on all the fun!  Be sure to click HERE to RSVP and reserve your seat at the best Habs fan event around!

And don't worry, the All Habs crew celebrates hockey 365 days a year, so be sure to follow @All_Habs and @habstweetup on Twitter to stay updated on Hockey Party announcements for events throughout the summer!

Check out the complete photo album from this event by clicking HERE!

Photo credits:  Pablo Ortiz

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All Habs Hockey Party in Montreal: Habs vs. Leafs

by Amy, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Sometimes there's just nothing better than a Habs win over the Leafs, you know? Well, nothing except a Habs SHUTOUT over the Leafs! And to top things off, getting to watch the Canadiens blank the Maple Leafs surrounded by a fun-loving and excited group of devoted hockey fans makes the whole evening even more memorable.

I must say a big thank you to Old Man Winter for having such a calm temperament this year in order to allow me to make the road trip to Montreal during a season that's usually too unpredictable weather-wise for driving.  (Although admittedly I was quite giddy to see so much snow on the ground when I arrived in Montreal.)

But even if it HAD snowed, nothing could have kept me from trekking north for the inaugural All Habs Night at McLean's hockey party! Recently, a new partnership was announced between All Habs and McLean's Pub (you can read more about it HERE) and one of the most exciting parts of that announcement involves a monthly All Habs Hockey Party fan event at McLean's.  So what better way to kick things off than with a Habs/Leafs matchup on Hockey Day in Canada? We also dubbed the evening as "Bring a Buddy" night - because more is always merrier!

As a result, we not only had the chance to reconnect with friends and familiar faces, but we were also thrilled to welcome some new folks into the mix as well.  Some of them came to us courtesy of a new promotion outreach via the All Habs Facebook page while others, like Emily (@hockey_princess) were enticed to come out because of the excitement of All Habs/McLean's partnership news.

Emily (@hockey_princess)

"I was a little hesitant to go at first because I figured everyone would already know each other and I would be the odd one out.  But that wasn't the case, I was welcomed with open arms!"

A native of a small New Brunswick town named Stanley (about thirty minutes north of Fredericton), Emily just moved to Montreal two months ago, at the beginning of December, and has been a Habs fan for as long as she can remember (thanks to her dad).

"I had heard of tweetups before and they looked like a fun way to enjoy a game.  I also thought it would be a good way to make some new friends in the city."

Thanks to our friends at McLean's, Emily and the rest of the attendees who had reserved their seat with the All Habs group via Twtvite or Facebook were given the VIP treatment:  prime seating in the center of the dining area with perfect views of many of the big-screen televisions, discounted prices on the pub's hockey menu, and beer specials.  With more than twenty people seated in our group, it was great to see so many people in the pub sporting an All Habs nametag!

Throughout the evening, manager Jay Farrar was master of the microphone, getting the entire bar pumped up for the rivalry game against the Leafs and playing the part of emcee for the All Habs Trivia Challenge.  This time we took the Trivia Challenge to a whole new level - trivia was open to everyone in the pub!

The questions were focused on Hockey Day in Canada - something to really test those trivia gurus!  Enticed by the prospect of winning one of many prizes, more than 80 people battled to get the most answers right or, more importantly, come up with the most creative answers.

Needless to say, we had lots of winners!  Prizes included a very chic Montreal Canadiens hat, two sporty All Habs t-shirts, as well as two gift certificates to Mac's Taps, an Alexander Keith's t-shirt and a hat all generously donated by McLean's Pub.  Of course the most coveted prize of all was a NASCAR mug awarded to the person with the worst answers.  Who says we don't have a sense of humour?

People all around the pub were buzzing, asking when the next event would be held and looking forward to the next chance to win prizes and test their trivia skills.  Others wanted to know how to be included with the All Habs VIP group at the next event.

Perhaps you're wondering the same thing as you read this?  Just be sure to RSVP for our next All Habs Night at McLean's on March 24th - it's that easy!  So sign up, tell your friends and family to do the same, and make sure you don't miss out on the next All Habs Hockey Party.

Oh, and as for that shutout?  Well the Habs REALLY made it a special night by completing dominating the Leafs in a 5-0 win.  It was a very fun game to watch with so many friends!  And we're happy to report that our friend Emily went home at the end of the evening having made a whole group of friends to interact with in her new home.  "It was great, the atmosphere in the pub was awesome."

Check out the complete photo album for this event by clicking HERE!

Also, be sure to reserve your seat early for our next All Habs Night at McLean's on March 24th when the Habs take on the Flyers AND on April 7th for the last game of the season against the Leafs.

Go Habs Go!

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Habs Tweetup in Toronto: A FANtastic Event!

by Dayes, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

TORONTO, ON -- Maybe it was an omen. I woke up Saturday morning to a city of white...but diehard Habs fans don’t let a few inches of pesky snowflakes stand in their way – not even in Leafs Nation. February 11, 2012 was the date of the most recent Habs-Leafs showdown, and what better way to spend it than with 25 of your closest Tweeple. That’s right! Behold! The Habs Tweetup – Tdot edition!

At 6:00 pm St. Louis Bar and Grill, in the heart of downtown Toronto, was adopted by Montreal. The CH filled the upper level. Okay, maybe the CH didn’t fill the upper level. Officially, in attendance at the Habs Tweetup were 14 Habs fans and 12 Leafs fans. While we won (but did not dominate) in bodies, we conquered in sound. You would have thought you were at the Bell Centre!

With a somewhat slow first period, the expected disappointed groans and Tortorella-style armchair coaching for both teams were surprisingly subdued.

Or maybe people were too busy eating the mounds of food that arrived 10 minutes into the first period. What is this food I speak of? There were four enormous plates of nachos and four heaping plates of poutine – all courtesy of St. Louis Bar & Grill! What can I say? They were absolutely stellar hosts.

As the second period got under way, the cordial niceties started to wane and the Habs started what would become an onslaught on the Leafs net. And with each goal, the mostly silent bar erupted in loud cheering. Many of the patrons on the lower levels of the bar were thoroughly confused by our enthusiasm.

During the second intermission, it was time to pay homage to a Jaroslav that had served Montreal for many years. And this time, it was the Spatchoman himself. Coordinated by @kuyaz, the Habs fans (and even a couple of Leafs fans) sang a glorious rendition of “Happy Birthday” to everyone’s favourite Spaceman. Jaroslav Spacek, Happy 38^th Birthday! From the Habs fans in Toronto!

In honour of Hockey Day in Canada the All Habs Trivia Challenge focused on Hockey Day-related questions, putting everyone's hockey knowledge to the test!  It was @mbouf who reigned supreme, winning a generously donated $25 gift card courtesy of the good people at St. Louis. (If you want to find out about her experience at the Habs Tweetup, you can check out her review of the event.)  Our other winners were Kelly Anne (an attendee via our Facebook event), and @PatrickFarrell1, who both won micro-Habs jerseys.

All in all, it was a successful event. The turnout was great. The people at St. Louis took excellent care of us. Oh, and did I mention that the Habs beat the Leafs 5-0? That's right! Blanchissage, baby!!! There was so much cheering with each goal, that by the time we got to the end of the game @kuyaz and I had lost our voices. We couldn’t even sing Olé!

So next time you hear or read about Habs Tweetup in Toronto (or any city, for that matter), make a point to attend. It’s all part of surviving in Leafs Nation, and if nothing else, it’s a great party! @kuyaz and I (@cokeaddict) would love to see you there.

GO HABS GO!!

Photo credits: Dayes (for all photos, click HERE)

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RSVP for a Habs Tweetup today! Click HERE

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A Habs Fan's Survival Guide (Part 2): Making Friends in Leafs Nation

by Dayes, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)


Chapter Two – The Company We Keep

You’d think it’d be a lonely life here in Leafs Nation as a Habs fan, but not so. I’ve lived in Toronto approximately five times longer than I lived in Montreal (but Montreal is still my hometown), but I can say I definitely have no shortage of friends.

So how does a Habs fan survive in Leafs Nation? In Chapter One, I describe my means of dealing with mouthy strangers. But you can only dish it out for so long. Eventually, you have to make friends. Here are a few basic guidelines on how to maintain a healthy social life in the Tdot.


Leafs-Habs diplomacy 101
If you are always around diehard Leafs fans, I strongly suggest you add a fine tuning control knob to your expression of Habs love. I’m not saying you should censor yourself (especially since Chapter One was all about not censoring yourself). But I am saying that you don’t have to be obnoxious and in-your-face about it when you’re around die-hard Leafs fans, especially since you are in enemy territory. Make friends with them based on other similar interests/common ground (food is usually a good one – more on that later) and limit your trash talk to when you watch games together.


Bribery
Toronto is a great food city. There are so many options in all price ranges and all cuisines. BUT there are two things that Toronto does NOT have that we Montrealers can use to bribe Leafs fans into submission. Very few of them are ever able to resist the gloriousness that is Montreal smoked meat and Montreal bagels. Everyone knows my family worships at Schwartz’s Deli, but Torontonians can’t be so selective.

They’ll take what they can get. And the places in Toronto that claim to serve Montreal smoked meat or Montreal-style bagels are just so substandard, that no one has ever rejected my offer to bring back food from Montreal. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with someone who has regular access to Montreal smoked meat and bagels? I know you’re going to say vegetarians and those with gluten sensitivities, but I have another tactic for them.


Everyone wants to be like you
You need to be fun to hang out with. I don’t care what team you love, if you’re not fun, I don’t want to hang out with you. BUT, if you’re a lot of fun, even *Leafs fans* will want to hang out with you. They’ll be willing to suffer the cost of admission, which is trash talking the Leafs. Be the life of the party. If you’re the most awesome person they know, they won’t care that you’re a Habs fan. In fact, some of them can be converted.

But don’t tell them I said that.


Make friends with other Habs fans
This obviously seems like a no-brainer, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. It’s not because Habs fans are hiding, but there are just *so* many people from all over, that sometimes you find yourself surrounded by people who love a non-hockey sport (I know, shocking, eh?). However, do not despair. The birth of Twitter and other social media has made finding people with similar interests so much easier that all you need to do to find awesome Habs fans is come out to a Habs Tweetup. I have Habs fan friends that I met prior to Twitter, but meeting many diehard fans has become much easier. So come out to our next Toronto Habs Tweetup event!! You won’t regret it!!

Follow Dayes on Twitter: @cokeaddict

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Habs Tweetup in Montreal: 2011-12 Season Kickoff

by Robyn, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

MONTREAL, QC -- Despite the fact that the Habs lost 2-0 to the dreaded Toronto Maple Leafs, spirits were high last Thursday night at Mclean's Pub for the first Montreal Habs Tweetup of the regular season.

Amidst the many fans packed into the pub to cheer on the Canadiens in their the season opener, it was easy to spot our enthusiastic group.  With our tables adorned with Habs balloons, our section added even more cheerfulness and fun to an already energetic atmosphere. The wait is over, friends; hockey is back!

Several familiar faces turned up to cheer on the bleu, blanc et rouge, along with a few new ones (like mini-@ladyhabs, @__flynn! She was very excited to attend her very first Habs Tweetup!)

Our lovely waitress extraordinaire, Adrienne, once again took care of our large group with her regular ease, and the pub's several televisions made watching the game a cinch, no matter where you were sitting.

The famous Habs Tweetup trivia was just as challenging as ever - prizes were well-earned!  @TheAbraxasCo walked away with a fun set of Habs socks, @EP31 took home a Habs prize pack that included several Habs-themed goodies, @HabsWatch made off with a Habs wallet, and @theactivestick & @HeyMyNameIsWill both scored a Habs Stanley Cup banner plaque and Habs stickers.

The next Habs Tweetup events take place in Toronto on October 22nd for the Habs vs Leafs game and then back in Montreal again on October 27th when the Habs take on the Bruins. Don't miss out on your chance to win great prizes, meet other Habs fans and have a good time...RSVP to reserve your seat today!

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A Habs Fan's Survival Guide: Living in Leafs Nation

The All Habs team is happy to announce another addition to our Habs Tweetup crew! Please join us in welcoming Dayes (@cokeaddict) as an Event Coordinator for Toronto.

She knows how hard living in the land of the Leafs can be - so Dayes has written a series of articles to help Habs fans survive when they find themselves in Tdot. First up? A set of witty comebacks...

written by Dayes, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

TORONTO, ON -- Here we are, in the heat of August. The 2010-11 hockey season is long over, and the July summer has melted away the pain of a post-season disappointment. As we gear up for the next season with training camp only a few weeks away, I thought I'd put together a little survival guide to help Habs fans trying to survive in Leafs Nation.

Chapter One - Talking Back
In case you don't already know, I hail from Montreal. My family moved to Toronto when I was very young, so I've spent the greater part of my life living in the big smoke of the Tdot. Hockey aside, I must say that do love the city of Toronto. But, that love does not extend to the Leafs. I am a devoted Habs fan! GO HABS GO!

Here are three scenarios in which you may find yourself when living in Toronto. Below each are phrases you may encounter (all have been real encounters of mine) and rebuttals that I suggest using (one that I have used, and two suggested alternatives).

The Direct Approach

Some Leafs fans have no shame. They don't know you. They don't know if you're a visitor or a resident. But they have no problem just coming up to you and mouthing off if they spot you with Habs swag.

"You have to be pretty brave or pretty stupid to wear that on the streets of Toronto>"

• "No, I'm just pretty."
• "Why do you say that? Are Leafs fans so barbaric that they'd attack random strangers?"
• "But I love hockey. All of May and June I couldn't find a single Leafs game. And I've been checking every year since 2006!"

"Why do you cheer for the Habs? You should cheer for a real team."

• "Clearly, your real team knows where it's at. Longer vacations! Damn, they're so smart!!"
• "But my fake team wins more games than your real team."
• "Hmmm...cheer for a real team that doesn't get into the playoffs, or cheer for a fake team that does...tough choice."

How can you be proud of a team that whines like the Habs?"

• "Because it's harder to be proud of a team that loses like the Leafs."
• "Because I can't bring myself to buy waffles to throw at the Leafs. Wasting food is wrong."
• "It's easy because the Habs actually win once in a while."

The Trash Talk

Inevitably, if you go to the bar to watch a game you will encounter trash talk. Personally, I don't like any sort of trash talk. You want to cheer for the Leafs, go ahead - go nuts! But I'm not going to come over specifically to rub it in your face if you're losing. 

However, not everyone subscribes to my method of watching entertainment sports. So don't go to the bar unarmed (figuratively speaking, I don't endorse weapons). You will need to be prepared with a couple of quips to defend yourself.

"Don't bother wiping the TV screen. It won't change the fact that your team is losing."

• "I'm cleaning it so that bad hockey doesn't look worse."
• "I like seeing the Leafs score fluke goals on TV. It's cheaper than going to see David Copperfield." "But I want to be able to see the Leafs' goals more clearly. They're so rare. I don't know when I might get another chance."

"The Price is Wrong!"

• "Still a better deal than Komisarek."
• "And Riem time is right?" (pronounced "rhyme")
• "And the Leafs had yet another smashing season of stellar goaltending! It was Johnny Bower's last season, but that's a minor detail."

"Your stupid team traded away the person [Halak] that carried them into the playoffs! We would never have done that."

• "But even if you had Halak, your team still wouldn't have gotten into the playoffs."
• "Well thank gawd you didn't trade away the star that got you into the playoffs...oh...wait...what playoffs? *whispers* Do the Leafs have any star players?"
• "That's right. You would've waffled him instead."

The Pickup Line (only applies to female Habs fans) T

his is Toronto. When you and your girlfriends are at the bar, waiting to order drinks, guys will inevitably try to impress with their connections to the Leafs. I'm guessing it works on girls who are Leafs fans.

"Oh, so you like hockey? Well, I have a box at the ACC."

• "When I said I liked hockey, I meant I like to watch professional hockey."
• "Awesome. I'll bring waffles."
• "They play hockey there? It doesn't look like real hockey."

"I don't like to spread it around, but you know [insert Leafs player name here] is my best friend's cousin."

• "You know, it's actually more impressive to name drop with players from teams that actually win." "Too bad my 6-year-old nephew isn't here. He's probably the only one who might care."
• "You're right. You shouldn't spread that around. It's like telling someone you have herpes."

(After buying a round of drinks for a group of seemingly uninterested girls...) "Do you know who I am? I'm Mats Sundin. Captain of the Leafs?"

• "Oh!! *faux awkward pause* I'm a Habs fan."
• "Leafs? Oh, honey! Let me buy *you* a drink. It must be so hard, losing games so frequently. I can buy you a pity drink."
• "Cool!! Have you ever been to the Hockey Hall of Fame? That might be your only opportunity to see the Stanley Cup in Toronto."

Stay tuned for my next chapter: The Company You Keep!

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Why McLean's Pub is THE best place to watch Habs

by Robyn Flynn, AllHabs.net (special to HabsTweetup.com)

MONTREAL, QC -- When you're a Habs fan, you could be watching the game alone in your living room and you'd still be screaming like a lunatic. But it's nice to be in a warm atmosphere, surrounded by other screaming lunatics, er, Habs fans. Such an atmosphere can be found right in the heart of downtown Montreal on Peel.



Now I can go on about the reasonably priced eats, the glorious beer towers (yes, towers), the excellent location, but there are several bars in Montreal which meet that standard. What sets McLean's apart is the experience.

Rapidly becoming the official Montreal location for Habs Tweetups, the warm and inviting ambiance definitely makes you feel right at home, and this is enhanced by the incredible staff that works there, most notably Adrienne and Jay.

Adrienne is a waitress extraordinaire who takes the time to learn your name, remember your favourite drink, find out what you do for a living, etc. She's an absolute sweetheart, be sure to tip her well!


Jay is a manager who makes every single person in the bar feel as though they're an integral part of the good times being had. He's sweet, funny, and completes the experience.

Honourable mentions have to go out to the rest of the staff, including Manon, Helen, and Darcy, and anyone else whose name I've yet to learn.

The food is reasonably priced, and during Habs games the pub offers a menu with meals named after Habs players past and present. I recommend the Guy Lafleur (chicken wings and fries) or the Mike Cammalleri (fish and chips).

McLean's is also a spot where local celebrities like to hang out, such as Chris "Knuckles" Nilan (who was there during Game 1 vs the Bruins signing autographs) and Annakin Slayd, the man who brought us Habs anthems like "Feels Like '93" and "MTL Stand Up". He frequents the bar on a pretty regular basis (and he's also a really, REALLY nice guy, a huge Habs fan, and appreciates ALL kind words from ALL his fans).

Whether the Habs win or lose, McLean's Pub is THE ultimate Habs watering hole.

Follow me on Twitter: @ladyhabs

photo credits: Pablo Ortiz and Robyn Flynn

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Video: Making the perfect pizza for a Habs game

Want to prepare the perfect pizza pie for an upcoming Habs game? Watch as our friend Na'eem shows you all the tricks of the trade!



Be sure to visit Na'eem's website Le Méchant Mangeur, a Montreal guide to food and the Habs, where our very own "Home Cooking with Habs Tweetup" articles also appear!

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